Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Hip Conditions

Many hip problems may be treatable without surgery. Dr. Justin LaReau maintains a philosophy that surgery should be reserved for when all other measures have proven unsuccessful in returning patients to an active lifestyle. Fortunately, there are several non-surgical treatments that can help to reduce hip pain and in many cases they come with few side effects or complications.

Weight Management and Activity:

Maintaining a healthy weight and regular exercise are essential tools to help reduce joint pain and stiffness, build strong muscle around the joints and increase flexibility. While losing weight may not reverse the damage that has been done to a joint, research has shown that even moderate weight losses can have a dramatic effect on the relief of joint pain. Reaching a normal body weight is recommended for people who are overweight, however starting with reasonable goals like losing 10 or 20 pounds can help with join pain. Exercise can enhance weight loss and promote long-term weight management. Regular activity replenishes lubrication to the cartilage of the joint and reduces stiffness and pain. Exercise can keep the muscles around affected joints strong, help to decrease bone loss and help control joint swelling and pain.

Physical Therapy:

Physical therapy is an important part of the non-operative treatment of hip arthritis and injuries. The goal of physical therapy is to get you back to the point where you can perform normal, everyday activities without difficulty. It is important to work with a therapist who is specifically trained and experienced in the area of Hip Preservation therapy. Physical therapists may recommend a combination of Isometric (no movement) exercises to help build muscle strength without subjecting inflamed joints to excessive wear and Isotonic (same force) exercises to further increase muscle strength and help preserve function. Preserving good range of motion is key to maintaining the ability to perform daily activities.

Cortisone Injections:

Cortisone is a type of steroid that is produced naturally by the body in the adrenal gland. Natural cortisone is released from the adrenal gland when your body is under stress and is relatively short acting. Synthetic cortisone is close to what is naturally produced in the body; however, unlike natural cortisone, synthetic cortisone is not injected into the blood stream but into a particular area of inflammation. It is designed to act for a longer period of time. By injecting the cortisone into a particular area of inflammation, very high concentrations of the medication can be given, the injections may work within a few days and the effects can last for up to several weeks or months. These injections offer quick, effective pain relief for some patients; however, they can be used only a few times a year because they weaken bone and cartilage.

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I sure made the right decision in choosing Dr. LaReau for my total hip replacement. No pain – the experience went so well I can’t believe it – I’m doing great!! Thank you. Bunny J.

70 Year Old Left Anterior Total Hip Arthoplasty

Being told that you need to have a major surgery is not what I wanted to ever hear in my lifetime. Being told that the top surgeon in Wisconsin couldn’t do the procedure just added to my anxiety. I was nervous about having the surgery, about what would follow and about meeting Dr. LaReau. I am a shy person and the idea of a complete stranger operating on me was a very scary thing. In reality Dr. LaReau made me feel comfortable from the first time I met him. I will never forget that firs…

17 Year Old Female Right Hip Periacetabular Osteotomy

It has been one day past a week since my total hip replacement procedure. My present condition has–from my perspective–far exceeded expectations. I share with you my perspectives regarding why this outcome has been achieved. These, of course, are personal views which you all may interpret differently.
1) Caring and expert medical professionals
An outstanding orthopedist supported by equally talented team members
2) Seamless care delivery
Starting with the decision to p…

Bob Becker

What do you do when you are told your 16 year old daughter has hip dysplasia and needs major reconstructive surgery to fix the problem? You do what any good parent does and find the top surgeon in the field to perform the procedure. You ask the best surgeons available, who is the most qualified and when the same name comes up again and again, you know you have found the right one. If you are reading this you have found that there are only a handful of specialized doctors in the nation that per…

16 Year Old Female with Hip Dysplasia

Early in 2011 I realized that the pain in my left hip was not going to go away if I didn’t get some professional help. I had been trying to cope with a hip that was progressively causing more problems for about 2 years, and nothing I tried on my own seemed to help. I finally told my primary care doctor about the pain and he suggested that I see Dr Justin LaReau with Hinsdale Orthopedics to see what was wrong. An exam and a couple of xrays showed that I had lost the cushion in the hip j…

68 Year Old Male Left & Right Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty

It’s difficult to find the word to express my appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Justin LaReau and his staff. I had been in pain for over ten years with both knees, had knee replacement five years ago that failed and brought me even worse pain. I came to Hinsdale Orthopaedics after a recommendation and met with Dr. LaReau. He felt he could help me. After Dr. LaReau performed revision surgery I have been pain free, so much so that I had him replace my other knee after only eights months. …

59 Year Old Female Right Total Knee Arthroscopy and Left Total Knee Arthoplasty Revision

Hello, my name is James C. I had a horrific accident in 2011 and I was told that I would never walk again. As part of my injuries my right leg was bonded straight. I had an evaluation with Dr. LaReau about correcting this issue. A decision was made to install a “Hinge Knee”. The procedure went fantastic! Within weeks after the procedure I was walking again and I was told by other surgeons that I would never walk again. Dr. LaReau and Gretchen are fantastic to deal with! They are prompt…

33 Year Old Male Right Total Knee Arthroplasty

I thank Dr. LaReau for giving me a few more years of pain free living. My surgery took 4 1/2 hrs. and he was still smiling when he told my wife and daughter that everything went well. After 2 months of physical therapy–I was able to walk a mile. Arthur W.

85 Year Old Male Left Total Knee Revision

Dr. LaReau is a very skilled, dedicated, compassionate and caring Orthopedic surgeon. Because of my mis-diagnosis, I was given a cortisone shot. Since they were treating a non existing problem, it did no good. After seeing another Orthopedic surgeon, I was diagnosed in need of a complete hip replacement. However, because of the cortisone shot, the surgeon would not operate until 6 months after the shot was administered. During the six months the pain increased steadily. My pain becam…

83 Year Old Female Right Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty

Dr. LaReau gave my life back to me when he performed the surgery to partially replace my knee. Before the surgery, it was difficult for me to walk any distance without severe pain. Now, thanks to Dr. LaReau, I am living my life normally once again. From my first visit to his office to my postoperative visits, he and his staff have been wonderful. They have been there to answer any questions and offer their support through the whole process and I can’t thank them enough.